Ukraine judge, three others beheaded

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KHARKOV, Ukraine, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Police in Ukraine said they are investigating the deaths of a judge and three others, whose headless bodies were found in his home in Kharkov.

A family member discovered the headless bodies of city district judge Vladimir Trofimov, 58; his wife, Irina, 59; their son, Sergei, 30; and his girlfriend, Marina Zoueva, 29, and called police Saturday, the BBC reported Monday.

"The murder took place in the morning, four bodies are decapitated," a police statement said Saturday, adding that the heads of the four victims were missing.

"We do not exclude Trofimov's professional activity as a motive which led to the crime. But we are also looking into other possible motives," Kharkov District police chief Viktor Kozitsky said.

The slayings could have been the result of a burglary; Trofimov had extensive coin, World War II medal and fine china collections, some pieces of which were missing, Russian broadcaster RT reported.